Undergraduate Courses
Students in “Break on Through”, taught by Melissa White and Marshall Lindsey, discuss their passions and skills as they develop a stronger sense of their personal artistic identity. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
The Department of Music at the University at Buffalo offers an exciting range of courses for music majors, minors and non-majors. Whether you're pursuing a degree or looking to explore music through the UB Curriculum, you’ll find classes that challenge and inspire.
Students pursuing a music degree take foundational and advanced courses in music theory, history, composition and performance. Here are some key course categories:
- Introduction to Music Theory and Musicianship: Learn core concepts of music theory and develop basic competence in Western music notation and performance skills, including the ability to play chords at a keyboard, sing simple melodies, and play in band with other student musicians.
- Music Theory, Analysis, and Aural Skills 1 & 2: Tonal theory, counterpoint and harmonic function
- Music Theory, Analysis, and Aural Skills 3 & 4: Explore form, rhythm, timbre and genre through classical, popular and contemporary music
- Music History Survey 1 & 2: A chronological survey from the 14th century to the present day.
- Women and Music: Explore women's roles in music from medieval mysticism to modern pop
- Orpheus: The Meaning of Music: Examine how the myth of Orpheus has shaped music and cultural thought
- Music, Comedy and Modernism: Study the interplay of humor and modernist movements in music
- Seminar in American Music: Investigate influential American musical traditions and figures
- Special Topics in Music: focus on current topics which are the focus of faculty research.
- Ensembles and chamber groups: join one of the many department ensembles, both large and small, or form a chamber group and work one on one with a performance instructor.
- Performance Seminar: Unlock creativity through experimental performance techniques
- Conducting 1 & 2: Learn rehearsal techniques and baton skills; ensemble participation expected
- Sound Recording and Production 1 & 2: From sound editing to synth-based composition
- Composition Seminar: Advanced workshop with feedback and critique
- Break on Through: Create a strategy for your career post graduation
- Methods courses: Learn the basics of each family of instruments, from brass to percussion, and how to apply to primary and secondary school students (required for students in the combined Music Education program).
Our department contributes widely to the UB Curriculum with seminar and pathway options designed for all majors.
- Beethoven and the Economics of Genius
- Open Ears, Open Minds
- Music, Body, Soul
- Guitar Hero
- Improvisation and the Human Experience
- Exploding Piano
- Music in Society: Arts One
- Understanding Music: A Global Opportunity
- Intro to Music Theory and Musicianship
- The Beatles in the 1960s
- Music and Gender
- Music and Money
- Sound Recording and Production 1 & 2
- Hip Hop
- World Music
- Rock Music